The aim of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to understand how older adults cope with experiences of ageism and racism through an intersectional lens. Twenty adults 60+ residing in the U.S. Mountain West who identified as Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), Asian-American/Pacific Islander, Indigenous, or White participated individually in a one-hour, semi-structured interview. A team of five coders engaged in an inductive coding process through independent coding followed by critical discussion. Peer debriefing enhanced credibility. Nine themes were organized by three umbrella categories: Coping with ageism: 1) distancing via self-determination/defying stereotypes, 2) distancing by helping others; Coping with racism: 3) resistance, 4) exhaustion; Coping with both ageism and racism: 5) increased awareness through aging, 6) healthy lifestyle, 7) education, 8) acceptance/ ‘let it go’, and 9) avoidance. Novel findings include how older adults may cope with ageism and racism via increased awareness through aging and with ageism specifically by helping peer older adults, although instances of internalized ageism were noted and discussed. The themes exemplify problem-focused (e.g., helping others) and emotion-focused (acceptance), as well as individual (e.g., self-determination) and collective (e.g., resistance) coping strategies. This study can serve as a resource for practitioners in applying a more nuanced understanding of the ways older adults cope with ageism and racism in later life.

这项定性现象学研究的目的是通过交叉视角了解老年人如何应对年龄歧视和种族主义经历。居住在美国西部山区的 20 名 60 岁以上成年人，他们被认定为黑人、西班牙裔/拉丁裔（a）、亚裔美国人/太平洋岛民、土著或白人，分别参加了一次时长一小时的半结构化访谈。由五名编码员组成的团队通过独立编码进行归纳编码过程，然后进行批判性讨论。同行汇报增强了可信度。九个主题分为三个总类别： 应对年龄歧视：1）通过自决/反抗刻板印象来保持距离，2）通过帮助他人来保持距离；应对种族主义：3）抵抗，4）疲惫；应对年龄歧视和种族主义：5）通过老龄化提高认识，6）健康的生活方式，7）教育，8）接受/“放手”，9）回避。新的发现包括老年人如何通过老龄化提高认识来应对年龄歧视和种族主义，特别是通过帮助同龄老年人来应对年龄歧视，尽管人们注意到并讨论了内在的年龄歧视的例子。这些主题体现了以问题为中心（例如，帮助他人）和以情感为中心（接受），以及个人（例如，自决）和集体（例如，抵抗）的应对策略。这项研究可以作为从业者的资源，帮助他们更细致地了解老年人在晚年生活中应对年龄歧视和种族主义的方式。